The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-12-01

their balances. The several items mentioned
will re1uire to be provided for by denciency
appropriation. The amounts due LOT sup
plies Of paper, adhesive stamps and enyel-
opes Of both kinds ought TO be included In
one urgent deficiency bill, and promptly pro
vided, because they were properly payaDio
during the year past on delivery OIL tne puI-
chased articles, and but for the eonslderate
favor Of the contractors in furnishing tne
needed supplies, the service would have suf-
fered. No Increase In price was paid in any
case, and no 0bligati0n.to pay interest incur
red; and the earliest possible discharge OF
these debts Is an obligation upon the honor
OF the government.
Notwithstanding the appropriations for
these Items OF supplies were exceeded, it Is
to be noted that the actual expenditures
have been less than before. and that the sup
plies bought and Issued have been much
greater In quantity. The appropriations
were 0verrun because they were largely re-
duced in consequence of the favorable ar
rangements effected BY the new contracts Of
the Department, and the magnitude Of the
coming demand was not sufficiently fore
seen. Thus, In 1885, the total expenditure
for adhesive stamps was S137, ,75347, while
for the last year the appropriation was but
S1l6,700, the entire cost but S123, ,584.45, or
S13,169.02 less than in 1885; and yet the in
crease over 1885 in the issue OF ordinary
stamps was 2Sl, ,862, ,585 in number. and So
81, ,528 in face value. So, In the item OF ON
clal and REGISTERED package envelopes, the
year the appropriation was only S57, 200; the
entire cost 5,013.49, or S5,083.77 less, while
the number Of such envelopes issued exceed
ed 1885 by 17,129,300; being an Increase OF
more than 40 per cent.
THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR
has commenced with all the manifestations
of business activity and consequent continu-
ing demand upon the postal service which
characterized the past Little advantage is
to be derived from any attempt to further
forecast its results than this fact indicates
The appropriations have been settled and at
this time appear In the aggregate TO be more
than sufficient. 1t Is now certain, however.
that the sum fixed for the compensation Of
postmasters is inadequate. 1t Is the same as
for the last year, and was then oyerrun by
nearly $230,O00 as has been stated. No In
convenience will follow, and no action Is
necessary to supply the deficiency until us
true amount shall be accurately known. The
appropriation for the transportation OF the
foreign mails Is also insufficient for the ex-
penditures inevitably to be incurred under
that head. The lacking amount can not yet
be definitely computed, but probably may be,
approx mately, In time for the Congress at
its coming session TO supply II. Otherwise
there Is no present reason to apprehend any
marked want OF appropriation, and there
will doubtless be considerable unexpended
balances.
Exterior Marks on Mall Matter.
The following sections Of the act Of 1879
relate to the writing. printing. and other
marks which may be placed upon OF accom-
pany mail matter of the second, third. or
fourth classes;
Sec. 22 That mailable matter Of the second
class shall contain no writing, print. marx. or
sign thereon or therein In addition TO the original
print, except as herein provided 70 VIII, tne name
shall be sent, and infex figures on subscription
book, either written or printed, the printed title
of the publisher or sender Of the same, and writ
ten or printed words or figures. or both, indica-
ting the date on which the subscription TO such
matter will end Upon matter Of the third class
or upon the wrapper ipcloslng the same, the send
ef may write ms own name Or dddress anefsSn s
same, and In either case may make simple marks
intended TO designate word or passage of the
may be placed upon the cover Of blank leaves OF
any book or any printed matter OF the third class
a simple dedication or inscription that does not
partake OF the nature OF personal correspon-
dence. Upon any package OF matter OF the
fourth class the sender may write or print ms
FROM" and there may also be written or printed
the number and names OF the articles inclosed:
and the sender thereof may write or print upon
or attach 20 any such articles, by tag or label,
mark, number, name, or letter for tine purpose OF
Sec. 2s. That matter Of the second, third or
fourth class containing any writing or printing
other than Indicated IN the preceding section, OK
made In the manner other than therein indicated,
shall not be delivered except upon the payment OF
postage for matter Of the first class, deductlng
therefrom any amount which may have been pre-
paid by stamps afixed TO such matter; and any
person who shall conceal or inclOSe any matter OF
higher class; and deposit. or cause .ne same % 70
be deposited, for conveyance by mall, at less
rate than would be charged for both such higher
and lower class matter. SHAH, for every such
yided. however, That nothing herein contained
shall be so construed as to prevent publishers OF
the second class and news agents from incosing
In their publications bills receipts and orders for
subscription thereto; but such bills, receipts ana
orders shall be In such form as 70 convey no oLper
| information than the name, location, and sub
scripton price Of the publication or publications
| to which they refer
The sections have remained In force since
their enactment. and have never been quail
fed, so far as / am able to discover, by any
regulation OF ruling Of the department. 1t
is almost needless to add that no regulation
or ruling could properly attempt to alter
them. or dispense with obedience to them on
the part Of postal officials or the public.
Necessarily, they were embraced in the new
edition Of the laws and regulations, the sew
eral provisions being placed in appropriate
connection with other rules relating 70 the
respective classes Of mail matter. All post
masters and postal officials were enjoined to
familiarize themselves with the regulations,
and special directions were given-f0r the
proper protection OF the revenue and the
equal administration of the law-t0 examine
all mail matter as provided by the statue and
collect the rates OF postage required by It,
also, to report cases Of violation Of the stat
utes against the fraudulent transmissi0ns OF
matter Of higher class under the rates pro-
yided for lower class.
The statute is minute and plain in its
terms, and little room for Interpretation Is
afforded by any ambiguity In phrase or ap-
plicati0n.
Matter Of the second class, which is enti-
tied to the pound rate consists Of newspapers
aud periodicals sent from offices OF publica-
tion, OF by news agents, for distribution to
subscribers or for sale. To aid this form OF
disseminating intelligence, the cheap rate OF
l cent per pound only is required under such
circumstances. When otherwise transmitted
matter Of this class must pay at the rate Of
cent for four ounces; and when the publish
er deposits II at a free delivery Office for dis
tribution by carriers, another rate Is i'm
posed.
Matter Of the third class comprises books,
circulars, printed matter. proof-sheets and
accompanying manuscript copy, and Is taxed
at the rate Of cent for 2 ounces, or cents
for the full pound.
Matter of the fourth class is all such as is
admissible TO the Fmails, and not within the
other classes, chiefly goods and merchandise,
and samples Of goods, and Is charged with
cent per ounce, or 16 cents for full pound.
In the application of the quoted sections
to these classes IL Is seen that the revenue
might be unjustly impaired, and that IL
would constitute an abuse Of a special privi-
lege given for public and not a private OBJ
ject, If advertisements or communications OF
any sort were permitted to accompany In
any way or form, inside or outside the wrap
per, the privileged newspaper or periodical
required TO be transmitted as originally pub
lished The statute descends to the minut-
est particulars Of definition. therefore, Of
the additions which may be permitted, and
declares that beyond such clearly defined al
lOwanees such matter "shaIl contain no
writing, print, mark or sign thereon OF
therein, In addition to the original print"
Assuredly this Is a case for literal obedience,
since the minute letter has received such
| legislative attention; conclusion strength
| ened by subsequent amendments In similar
| detail, one Of which was specially enacted to
provide that ''any article or item In any news
paper or other publication may be marked
for observation, except by written or printed
words, without increase Of postage"
But IL is not for the benefit Of the revenue
TO prohibit the inclosure with matter OF the
fourth class Of any circular or other third
class matter, because IL would IN that form
pay double the rate of postage chargeable
upon II II sent independently; nor Is there
any satisfactory reason TO suppose IL could
have been the purpose OF Congress to pro-
- A.